The Key to Preventing and Treating Stroke

By CalBroker Magazine

May is designated as Stroke Awareness Month in the United States, aimed at raising awareness about stroke prevention and treatment. This month highlights the importance of recognizing stroke symptoms and managing risk factors such as high blood pressure, which can significantly reduce the likelihood of a stroke occurring.

We all know that a stroke is a severe medical emergency — it often strikes without warning and leaves behind devastating consequences. For brokers, understanding the nuances of prevention, diagnosis, and treatment can help you guide your clients toward more cost-effective solutions with better outcomes.

Below, we’ll delve into the key to preventing and treating stroke, as well as exploring the symptoms and early diagnosis of a stroke and which treatments work to rehab stroke impact. Also, we’ll look into the role of stroke risk and prevention research. Here’s what you need to know to support your clients:

What Is a Stroke?

A stroke occurs when blood flow to the brain is disrupted due to a blocked artery or a burst blood vessel. The first type is known as an “ischemic stroke,” while the second is a “hemorrhagic stroke.”

The early diagnosis of stroke is crucial for a timely and appropriate recovery. Usually, a patient will manifest sudden numbness or weakness, confusion, headaches, and/or trouble speaking.

Once the patient is at the clinic, doctors will use imaging tests such as CT scans and MRIs to identify the type of stroke, its current state, and its severity. Blood tests and physical exams are also typically mandatory, and other tests such as a carotid ultrasound or a cerebral angiogram may also be used.

How Can Strokes Be Prevented?

The classic “FAST” test is an excellent way to tell if a person is having a stroke. Teaching your clients how it works can help them get to a clinic in time, which translates to a better prognosis. FAST involves the following:

Face: Can the person smile? Or does one side of the face not seem to be working properly?

Arms: Can the person lift both arms correctly?

Speech: Can the person repeat a simple phrase? Is their speech slurred or different in some way?

Time: If any of these signs are present, a medical emergency service should be called right away.

What Causes Strokes?

Ischemic strokes are often the result of clots or plaque buildup in the arteries supplying blood to the brain. Hemorrhagic strokes usually stem from weakened blood vessels—which may be linked to conditions such as high blood pressure.

At a more basic level, lifestyle issues can be the hidden cause of a stroke. Smoking, a sedentary lifestyle, and even poor dietary habits can contribute significantly. Other health conditions, such as diabetes and high cholesterol, can also have a great impact.

Who's More at Risk?

The main risk factor for strokes is age. Older adults face a higher risk than younger people, and even more so if they have a family history of strokes. As we already mentioned, other health conditions can also play a part.

Obese people and individuals who use illegal drugs such as cocaine are also at a greater risk of having a stroke. At a less impactful level, males are more prone to strokes — even more so for those of African American or Hispanic descent.

What's the Treatment for Strokes?

Treating a stroke, more than anything, involves swift and timely action. The earlier the intervention, the better the chances of minimizing permanent damage and improving prognosis.

To treat an ischemic stroke, blood flow should be restored as quickly as possible to the brain. This will usually involve emergency IV medicine, which will attempt to break up the clot — essentially removing the direct cause of the stroke.

In some cases, more invasive procedures are required. For example, doctors may insert a catheter to deliver medicine directly to the brain. They may also decide to remove the clot with a stent retriever if the clot is large enough. Other options, such as an endarterectomy or an angioplasty, are also possible.

For hemorrhagic strokes, doctors will usually focus on controlling the bleeding and reducing pressure in the brain. This usually involves specific medications and/or transfusion of blood products.

If the stroke is severe enough, doctors may opt for surgery instead. This can range from introducing a tiny clamp to stop blood flow to more complex procedures such as radiosurgery.

Advancements in Research

The study of strokes has become a top priority in medical research, resulting in significant advancements in recent years. Stroke risk and prevention research continues to uncover innovative therapies.

New thrombolytic drugs — specifically, tenecteplase — are at the center of this research. Tenecteplase is proven to be more effective and easier to administer than traditional medications.

As for the future, promising research is developing in the field of nanomedicine. While it’s still in its early stages, antiplatelet and anticoagulant nanomedicine therapy has shown to be an encouraging prospect for both preventing and treating strokes.

What About Rehab After a Stroke?

After a stroke and the necessary treatment, the patient will be closely monitored for a few days. Several therapies will be used to recover movement, feeling, speech, and language, although the specifics will be determined by the type and severity of the stroke.

Most people will need to go through a rehabilitation program based on their age, overall health, and degree of disability. Lifestyle habits may need to be changed as well, which may involve dietary habits and level of sedentarism.

Several professionals may be needed, ranging from neurologists and physiatrists to dietitians and social workers. Medications may also be prescribed to prevent future strokes, as well as regular check-ups with a doctor.